Unlocking the truth about restaurant reviews

Yauatcha★ // Soho // London

below expectations

Looking for a nightclub with Ping-Pong level food? Go to Yauatcha. With trendy waiters, Tiesto/Guetta music blaring in the background and Wagamama-style communal tables, the atmosphere at Alan Yau’s Michelin starred restaurant is perplexing to say the least. While you may happen across a ‘Z’ list celeb, it won’t take you long to come to the conclusion that this restaurant is very overrated and not very classy.

Yauatcha revolves around design rather than food, so its clientele is more there to be seen rather than for a great dining experience.

Turning to its rating, it’s unfathomable to figure out how Michelin could get it this so wrong. Maybe the ground floor with a more elegant and peaceful atmosphere would be more appealing, but as it is, it doesn’t come close to 1* star. Nor does it measure-up food wise against some of the more classic Chinese experiences to be had on Baker Street, and given its rating, those restaurants should be awarded a star too if they hucked-up their decor a bit – it’s all a bit silly.

On the menu the best things you can order are the crispy duck and the scallop and kumquat dim sum, but the rest is decidedly average. With you order before you, you’ll really be baffled by quality of the food and the whole experience.

So, if you’re looking for a sake or lychee cocktail bar, go somewhere else. If you’re looking for dim-sum ….take your Oyster card and head to Baker Street. If you’re looking for somewhere to have a date with some upbeat dance music, definitely think twice before going to Yauatcha. Given it’s overall poor quality, its days should be numbered